After Napolian I's defeat in 1815, Germany was established as 39 different states. Many Germans wanted political unification, but the states could not agree on one form of government. Due to the many sperate states, revolutions that took place had different leadership, aims, and outcomes. Monarchies were mostly overthrown in 1848.
Taking Initial Steps Toward Unity
A. Napoleon Raids German Lands
1. Between 1806 and 1812, Napoleon made important territorial changes in German-speaking lands.
2. Diddolved Holy Roman Empire by forcing the Austrian Emporer to take a lesser job as king.
3. Some Germans welcomed him because he encouraged freeing surfs, making trade easier and getting rid of laws against jews.
4. But some Germans did not welcome him and pushed for a united Germany.
5. Peacemakers created The German Confederation instead of dismantling every states government.
B. Economic Changes Promote Unity
1. In the 1830, Prussia created an economic union called the Zollverein.
2. But Germany was still separated polically.
3. In 1848, liberals demanded for German to be political unified.
4. They offered the throne to Frederick William IV of Prussia.
Bismark Unites Germany
1. Prussian legistlators waited for Otto Von Bismark to speak, he wanted people to vote to build up the army, but liberals did not want this movement.
2. “Germany does not look to Prussia’s liberalism, but to her power. . . . The great questions of the day are not to be decided by speeches and majority resolutions—that was the mistake of 1848 and 1849—but by blood and iron!” —Otto von Bismarck, 1862
3. This speech set the tone for his future policies, he was determined to build a stronger, more powerful Germany with Prussia at its head.
A. Master of Realpolotik
1. He was a master of Realpolitik or realistic politics based on the needs of the state.
2. His primary loyalty was to the Hohenzollerns the ruling dynasty of Prussia.
B. Strengthing the Army
1. Bismarck strengthened the army with money that had been collected for other purposes, as his first task.
C. Bismark Declares War on Denmark and Austria
1. Bismarck’s first maneuver was to form an alliance in 1864 with Austria.
2. In 1866, Bismarck invented an excuse to attack Austria. The Austro-Prussian War lasted just seven weeks and ended in a decisive Prussian victory.
3. Prussia then annexed, or took control of, several other north German states.
4. Bismarck dissolved the Austrian-led German Confederation and created a new confederation dominated by Prussia.
D. France Declares War on Prussia
1.A growing rivalry between the Prussia and France led to the Franco-Prussian War of 1870.
2. Bismarck played up the image of the French menace to spur German nationalism.
3. Bismarck’s editing of the “Ems dispatch” made it seem that William I had insulted the Frenchman, furious with this rumor, Napoleon III declared war on Prussia, as Bismarck had hoped
Birth of a German Empire
A. Victory Over France
1. Princes from southern German states and the north German Confederation persuaded William I of Prussia to take the title of Kaiser.
2. In 1871 German nationalists celebrated the birth of the Second Reich.
3. Bismarck created a constitution which created a 2 House Legislature which included the following.
After Napolian I's defeat in 1815, Germany was established as 39 different states. Many Germans wanted political unification, but the states could not agree on one form of government. Due to the many sperate states, revolutions that took place had different leadership, aims, and outcomes. Monarchies were mostly overthrown in 1848.
Taking Initial Steps Toward Unity
A. Napoleon Raids German Lands
1. Between 1806 and 1812, Napoleon made important territorial changes in German-speaking lands.
2. Diddolved Holy Roman Empire by forcing the Austrian Emporer to take a lesser job as king.
3. Some Germans welcomed him because he encouraged freeing surfs, making trade easier and getting rid of laws against jews.
4. But some Germans did not welcome him and pushed for a united Germany.
5. Peacemakers created The German Confederation instead of dismantling every states government.
B. Economic Changes Promote Unity
1. In the 1830, Prussia created an economic union called the Zollverein.
2. But Germany was still separated polically.
3. In 1848, liberals demanded for German to be political unified.
4. They offered the throne to Frederick William IV of Prussia.
Bismark Unites Germany
1. Prussian legistlators waited for Otto Von Bismark to speak, he wanted people to vote to build up the army, but liberals did not want this movement.
2. “Germany does not look to Prussia’s liberalism, but to her power. . . . The great questions of the day are not to be decided by speeches and majority resolutions—that was the mistake of 1848 and 1849—but by blood and iron!” —Otto von Bismarck, 1862
3. This speech set the tone for his future policies, he was determined to build a stronger, more powerful Germany with Prussia at its head.
A. Master of Realpolotik
1. He was a master of Realpolitik or realistic politics based on the needs of the state.
2. His primary loyalty was to the Hohenzollerns the ruling dynasty of Prussia.
B. Strengthing the Army
1. Bismarck strengthened the army with money that had been collected for other purposes, as his first task.
C. Bismark Declares War on Denmark and Austria
1. Bismarck’s first maneuver was to form an alliance in 1864 with Austria.
2. In 1866, Bismarck invented an excuse to attack Austria. The Austro-Prussian War lasted just seven weeks and ended in a decisive Prussian victory.
3. Prussia then annexed, or took control of, several other north German states.
4. Bismarck dissolved the Austrian-led German Confederation and created a new confederation dominated by Prussia.
D. France Declares War on Prussia
1. A growing rivalry between the Prussia and France led to the Franco-Prussian War of 1870.
2. Bismarck played up the image of the French menace to spur German nationalism.
3. Bismarck’s editing of the “Ems dispatch” made it seem that William I had insulted the Frenchman, furious with this rumor, Napoleon III declared war on Prussia, as Bismarck had hoped
Birth of a German Empire
A. Victory Over France
1. Princes from southern German states and the north German Confederation persuaded William I of Prussia to take the title of Kaiser.
2. In 1871 German nationalists celebrated the birth of the Second Reich.
3. Bismarck created a constitution which created a 2 House Legislature which included the following.